Hat block



Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES Par-Tem; ottica SumnerCCx, Fremont, andi-Bernardi -E'verdsgr' Sandusky, Ohio Application September-23, 1947,l Serial No. 775,688y

2 Claimsif (Cl. 223;;2495

lates more particularly to a hat block of the type used in cleaning hats.

It is an object of our invention to provide an improved inflatable hat block which is adjustable for various head sizes.

It is a further object of our invention to provide an improved hat block which will be adjustable laterally but not vertically whereby various head sizes may be accommodated on the block, the upper portion of the block having a predetermined definite height.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved hat block which will eliminate the necessity for removing the sweat band of a hat in order to secure a tight t for such hat on the hat block.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an improved hat block which will be simple to manufacture, and yet be inexpensive and efficient in use.

Further objects of our invention and the invention itself will become more readily apparent from a purview of the following description, in which description reference will be had to the appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved hat block of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the hat block of Fig. 1 taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing in dotted lines an expanded size of said block; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 of a portion of the top of said block.

The improved hat block I of our invention is preferably constructed of semi-hard heat-resistant rubber which when expanded, as is later herein specifically described, will allow a suinciently hard outer surface for luring and polishing. It is preferably provided with a body I I which is generally cone-shaped with a slightly convex head l2. and elongated slightly curved sides I3 having inturned ends I4 and I5 to which a hard rubber inner spindle receiving socket I6 is secured, as by vulcanization or the like. The socket I6 is provided with a central core portion Il, having a spindle receiving recess I8 therein, and an outwardly and downwardly eX- tending inner cone I9 providing flat peripheral edge portions 2li for the block.

The socket I 6 is preferably approximately onehalf the height of the block itself and is of considerably harder rubber than the block. The inner lower sides of the block are preferably re- CTI 2` inlforcd withiinetal `and! fabric or likerstays-2l interposed between the portions 2l) of the socket IE and the sides I3 of the block, the stays 2| abutting and being secured to the lower inner portions of the said sides I3.

The upper head portion I2 of the block is preferably provided with substantially slightly convex metal stay strip 22 and fabric stay strip 23 integrally secured together and to the head I2 to assist in maintaining a uniform height of block and a smooth head surface therefor.

An air intake valve 24 of the usual type, such as that used with an automobile tire, is provided, adapted to be projected into and to communicate with the open area 25 of the block, whereby air or steam may be pumped into the block whereby the body of the block may be inflated by the air and accordingly, as the sliding band marker 26 may be adjusted, air is admitted until the block attains the proper size. The hat to be cleaned, polished, etc., is placed over the block when the same is deiiated and a tight i'lt is thus secured therewith when the proper amount of air is admitted within the block.

It will be noted that the valve 2 may be used to act as a safety valve so that over-inflation may be avoided. Further, it should be observed that the metal and fabric stays are so arranged that pressure is applied horizontally to each of the several stays used and equally at all points in the hat block and flange, thereby eliminating any soft spots or openings which would cause blistering of the hat material.

To deiiate, the stem of the valve is pressed inwardly to permit air to escape from the block so that the crown of the hat can easily be removed therefrom.

It will be obvious that various departures may be made from the embodiment of our invention herein illustrated and described without however departing from the spirit of our invention and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A hat block comprising a substantially hollow body yhaving an arched head portion and substantially straight'side walls, an inner spindle receiving socket of substantially inverted W- shape in cross section secured to the downwardly extending ends of said side walls, said socket being spaced from the upper arched portion of the hat block body, the inner lower sides of the hat block wall being provided with reinforcement means integrally secured thereto, reinforcement means being disposed within the upper arched head portion and integrally secured thereto, means for admitting a predetermined amount of air into that portion of the body disposed between said socket member and the inner surfaces of said body to expand said body in a horizontal direction to any desired size, the reinforcement means in said arched head portion preventing vertical expansion of said head portion.

2. A hat block comprising a substantially hollow body of semi-hard, heat-resistant rubber having an arched head portion and substantially straight side walls, a hard rubber inner spindle receiving socket of substantially inverted W- shape in cross section secured to the downwardly extending ends of said side walls, said socket being spaced from the upper arched portion of the hat block body, the inner lower sides of the hat block wall being provided with reinforcement means integrally secured thereto, reinforcement means being disposed within the upper arched head portion and integrally secured thereto,

means for admitting a predetermined amount of air into that portion of the body disposed between said socket member and the inner surfaces of said body to expand said body in a horizontal direction, the reinforcement means in said arched head portion preventing Vertical expansion of said head portion.

SUMNER C. COX.

B. V. EVERDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 716,251 Lamont et al Dec. 16, 1902 1,742,397 Kauffmann Jan. 7, 1930 1,997,330 Elle Apr. 9, 1935 2,037,158 Lindsey July 13, 1937 2,129,720 Wilhelm Sept. 13, 1938 

